Just spent two glorious weeks in Bali. Returned to Adelaide last Friday 15 Sept. Bali is still quiet but we found it much busier than when we were there 2 weeks after 2nd bombing last Oct.
Flights and accommodation arrangements
Flight to Bali via Darwin. Had 10 hour stopover but kept our selves amused checking out the city of Darwin. Flew home via Perth and thanks to a stuff up by Qantas was provided with overnight stay at Casino complex on Thursday night (stayed at Holiday Inn, room was great and food was awesome - especially seeing it was all paid for by the airline).
We booked our accommodation for Bali with Mida (as per numerous recommendations on this forum). She was awesome, nothing was too much trouble. We tried to round up costs for accommodation but she wouldnt hear of it (even went to the trouble of making sure she gave us 1000 rup change - and wouldnt accept anything over the total costs). Would highly recommend Mida to anyone wanting to book accommodation in Bali.
Hotels
Spent 5 days at the Ramada Bintang (as request of our 23 yr old daugher who hadnt been to Bali before and wanted to get the feel or a large resort). Requested a ground floor room but was allocated 2 rooms on the top floor (quite a climb up those stairs after a long night out!). Rooms were in good condition and spotless. Bathrooms were on the small side. Service was great but we found the resort was quite typical of larger resorts around the world - lacked that personal service. Hotel had quite a large number of people staying there but the majority were Japanese and Dutch (who dont use the pool area) so we found there was always plenty of room around the pool each day.
Lokha Legian
Spent 6 days at the Lokha. Daughter and her partner had a deluxe room on 1st floor, extra large room with 2 queen size beds. We had a ground floor super deluxe room. Room was great, extra clean. Had the usual problem (as reported on the forum) with the bathroom flooding but it wasnt any big problem. Service at the Lokha was excellent. Location was great. Had a small problem with loud neighbours towards the end of our stay (but hey that can happen anywhere). Would highly recommend this resort to anyone wanting good priced accommodation in Legian.
Casa Padma
Stay in the deluxe suite at the Casa Pada for 3 nights. The room we had was the largest room they have - it was huge. It had a lounge, dining area, bedroom with 2 king size beds, a dressing room and an extra large bathroom. Neogiated a walk in rate of 700,000 rup per night (which was an excellent price comparing it to website prices and travel agents). Service was great, only fault we could find here was that the pool is entirely in the shade after about 12 noon. This resort would probably suite couples wanting a quiet holiday.
Restaurants
Most of the time we ate at our good old favourite IndoNational. As usual food, drink and company was excellent.
While at Tuban we ate at Green Garden and Febris (both great for good cheap meals).
Ate at Atmosphere twice - booked the lounge area upstairs and can only say watching sunset from 1st floor was incredible. Meals here were a little on the costly side but of good quality.
Drops (Casa Padma) - probably one of the best feeds of steak we have ever had in our entire life. Meals here were fantastic. Can highly recommend this restaurant (and they make the best coffee in Bali).
Zanzabar - good reasonably priced meal.
Kori - brilliant meal (although quite costly). Was worth the visit just to see the architecture.
Gracie Kellys - good basic aussie meal at reasonable price. Great place for a night out listening to some good bands.
Pappas (Alum KulKul) - still one of my all time Bali favourites. Food was excellent and service was great. Volcano pizza is still just the best pizza in the world!!!!
Shopping
Did most of our shopping at fixed priced shops - Diannes in Tuban (opp Green Garden) and Ketuts at Legian. Great service at both places.
Had t-shirts printed at Bali Brumby (jl dewi sartika - behind Bubba Gumps). Cost around $10-12 Aus and did a fantastic job. These guys will print whatever you want on a T-shirt. Turn around was about 3 days. Highly recommend them!
DVDs - pre-ordered the majority of these via H-----. Been using him for past 6 years and service is still outstanding. He always lets you know if any you want are not of good quality.
Did a bit of shopping for silver jewellery and found a good shop on JL Legian (few doors down from Silver Boat). It was called Ocean Silver and they had some unusual and good priced items.
Spent heaps of money and did masses of shopping at Surf Outlet. Found quality and quantity of goods available this year to be the best they have had since we started visiting there over the past 3-4 years. All items are the real thing and we saved approx 50-60% opposed to prices at our local stores here.
Found cost of items in surfing stores in Kuta Sq and Legian werent all that cheap this year (but in prev years we seemed to have always found them to have good sales - wasnt the case this year).
Purchased Martha Tilla products from SuperNova (after reading so much about it on this forum). Now Im just waiting for the wrinkles to disappear (yeh like if!!!)
General
Had fantastic head massage and husband had hair cut at hairdressers next to KFC at front of Discovery Mall. Total cost for 2 x 1 hr head massages and male haircut was $12.75 Aus and we were stunned at what a great job the girl did of the haircut.
Had hair coloured and blowdried at Itas in Garlic Lane. Fantastic job (have had numerous compliments since returning to Adel). Cost $14.00 (opposed to the $115 I pay here in Sth Aust).
Had great massage at Made's in Garlic Lane.
Once again our annual holiday to Bali was fantastic. Naturally we are all still suffering from the return to Oz depression. Counting down the days until we head back to Bali in May.
Thank you to everyone on the forum for all the great recommendations etc - this forum makes travelling to bali just so easy.